Emergency Management Coordinator

Highlands County Board of County Commissioners•Sebring, FL

1d•$53,896 - $91,408

About The Position

The Emergency Management Coordinator is a professional position in Highlands County Public Safety that provides comprehensive support in emergency management planning, training, operations, and recovery. The coordinator develops and maintains emergency plans and training programs, conducts public outreach, supports disaster response and recovery efforts, and helps ensure compliance with local, state, and federal emergency management standards. The role supports the county's emergency plans and programs, delivers and evaluates training and exercises, coordinates special-needs sheltering and severe-weather notifications, assists with emergency communications, and maintains planning and training documentation. The coordinator also supports grants, public safety generators and shelters, community partnerships, and emergency operations center activations. The position is designated Disaster Essential and serves as an on-call Emergency Management Duty Officer on a rotating basis.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited high school.
Possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License.
Complete FEMA Independent Study courses IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800 within the past five years.
Complete the FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS) within 60 days of hire if not already completed.
Possess or be able to obtain EVOC certification.
Complete FEMA courses G-300 and G-400 within 12 months of hire.
Ability to work outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended shifts.
Ability to remain seated or standing for long periods and frequently bend, reach, or kneel to access files, equipment, or supplies.
Ability to read and assess electronic and written communications and exchange accurate information.
Ability to occasionally climb stairs and lift up to 25 pounds independently or 50 pounds with assistance.
Ability to drive a County vehicle for up to four hours for field work, meetings, training, or emergencies.
Ability to work in office and outdoor settings, including inclement weather or hazardous conditions, and under high-stress emergency conditions.
In-depth understanding of emergency management principles and strategies, including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Knowledge of FEMA, NIMS, ICS, Florida Statutes Chapter 252, and other applicable emergency management policies.
Knowledge of instructional design, adult learning theory, and training delivery methods.
Ability to develop and deliver training, materials, curricula, simulations, and assessments, and to evaluate training effectiveness.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, time-management, interpersonal, oral communication, and written communication skills.
Knowledge of Highlands County geography, transportation networks, and emergency services.
Ability to design and revise plans and procedures, assess risks and vulnerabilities, analyze technical and statistical information, and prepare accurate reports.
Familiarity with emergency communication and alert notification systems.
Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and emergency management systems.
Ability to work independently with general supervision and collaboratively, adapt to changing circumstances, and participate in continuous learning.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Emergency Management, Public Safety, Homeland Security, or a related field.
Two to five years of experience in emergency management, disaster preparedness, emergency planning, training, or exercise design.
Experience in healthcare emergency plan review, communications systems, or emergency operations center functions.
Additional certifications may be required.

Responsibilities

Support compliance with Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Code, and other applicable state and federal laws, regulations, and guidelines.
Support and maintain the county's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP), Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS), and other required plans.
Develop and maintain mitigation, response, and recovery plans for hazards including hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, hazardous materials incidents, and terrorism.
Review and maintain Standard Operating Procedures and Emergency Support Function plans; provide technical assistance and review residential, healthcare, and development emergency plans.
Develop, implement, and evaluate emergency management training programs, including instructional materials, simulations, drills, and assessments.
Deliver training to employees and partners on emergency procedures, ICS/NIMS, response protocols, and documentation; evaluate programs and implement improvements.
Design and facilitate tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises; evaluate outcomes and prepare After Action Reports and Improvement Plans.
Participate in and support external agency drills and statewide or regional exercises.
Coordinate and support the county's Special Needs Sheltering Program, including education, registration, transportation, and response planning.
Provide severe-weather notifications and updates to personnel, departments, schools, and partners using various communication systems.
Assist with emergency communication systems, including Alert Highlands and communication tower coordination.
Support organizations through program facilitation, information exchange, and dissemination of promotional materials, educational opportunities, and training offerings.
Conduct public outreach presentations and preparedness seminars, and participate in expos for businesses, nonprofits, civic organizations, and the public.
Participate in the Local Mitigation Strategy Workgroup, LEPC, COAD, and other emergency management associations.
Support routine maintenance and testing of Public Safety generators and designated shelters.
Identify grant opportunities and support related administrative activities.
Maintain accurate training and planning documentation for auditing and compliance, and participate in plan updates to reflect changes in structure, resources, and regulations.
Maintain a professional and safe work area and follow safety and operational policies.
Serve as an on-call Emergency Management Duty Officer on a rotating basis for nights, weekends, and after-hours emergencies.
During Emergency Operations Center activation, potentially serve as Incident Commander or as Plans, Operations, Logistics, or Recovery Section Chief on day or night shift.
Build and maintain working relationships with public safety agencies, community partners, government departments, and emergency responders.
Maintain current knowledge of emergency management practices, laws, and issues; attend approved training and educational events.
Respond productively to change and perform other related tasks and duties as directed.